Regret Won’t Bring DUI Victim Back

September 20, 2013

Matthew Cordle, 22, of Powell, Ohio, made headlines earlier this month when he posted a video of himself online, admitting his drunken driving killed a man and vowing to take responsibility for the crime.

That would not have mattered in the criminal case against Cordle, prosecutors have said. They had an open-and-shut case.

On June 22, a pickup truck driven by a very inebriated Cordle struck a car driven by Vincent Canzani, 61, of Gahanna, Ohio. Canzani was killed.

During a court appearance Wednesday, Cordle kept his promise. He pleaded guilty to charges including aggravated vehicular homicide. He will be sentenced at a later date.

Prosecuting Attorney Ronald O'Brien has said he believes Cordle was sincere in the video he posted online, and was motivated by a desire to convince other people to refrain from driving while intoxicated.

Well, we suppose that's good. But it's too late for Vincent Canzani, his family and friends.

Cordle did not set out to kill a man on June 22. But he did. No amount of publicly expressed regret will change that. Nothing can change it - and that is something to consider the next time you think about getting behind the wheel after drinking too much.